Safe travels this week

I can’t help to feel a sense of connection with drivers who share the road with me during my travels and wanted to capture the sense of loneliness along with the feeling of adventure that a life on the road provides.

‘Down the Road’ is dedicated to National Truck Driver Appreciation Week November 1st. thru November 7th, and it was written about the backbone of this country – the professional drivers and their families.

Thank you for helping the world move along by keeping our shelves stocked, our tanks full and our businesses running. Your efforts don’t go unnoticed, and in honor of driver appreciation week, this song is for you.

 Down The Road by Rob Anthony

DOWN THE ROAD

by Rob Anthony

The sun sets down on a painted sky

It’s always hard to say goodbye

I never leave your smile behind

I take all of you with me

The open road it calls to me

The places I go the people I see

I bring everything they need

And help the world to move along

One mile down and a thousand more to go

I carry the load down the road

The desert heat it keeps me warm

Rain or shine I weather the storm

Your pictures I keep up above

Remind me of the love back home

I tell my son the faces I see

That day-to-day they rely on me

One day you will understand

I help the world to move along

One mile down and a thousand more to go

I carry the load down the road

Waves of grain and the starry nights

Mountaintops and the city lights

Thoughts of you by candle light

They all bring me back to you

One mile down and a thousand more to go

And you know I’m coming back home

I take you with me every where I go

I carry this load down the road

SONG INSIGHT: This other life that beckons us and lets us ride free. Lets us take a part of ourselves to better the world, better our craft. It’s an inner struggle – remembering smiles of those you love under starry skies, longing to be back with them, and knowing what you’re doing is making a difference in the world. Just as the road leads you away, though, it brings you back to the things that matter. The same things that got you from city lights to mountaintops and a thousand miles back again.

Copyright 2007, R Anthony Music, BMI

Written by Rob Anthony & Keith Pulvermacher

Who says a folk rocker can’t still rock.

You can now download/listen for free the live rock mix from Chicago’s own DJ Vivid vs. Rob Anthony August 20th performance at Speakeasy featuring re-mixes from Metallica, Guns -n- Roses, Justice, Genesis and the list goes on.

Vivid vs Rob Anthony LIVE mix by Vivid

Awesome rock mix Vivid came up with for me to play electric guitar to. We look forward to hitting a club near you soon with more.

I bare it all naked today – 9/11

Well, it’s simple I’m a song writer. I express emotions with words and music so here you go today…

While The World Sleeps by Rob Anthony

WHILE THE WORLD SLEEPS

I don’t know why lately I cry

It seems like this life treats me so good

But the view I see on late night TV

The nightmares have caught up with me

It says please believe

With no signs of relief

In all its glory lies misery

While the world sleeps

I’m down on my knees

Praying for those all in need

While the world sleeps

I’m praying to see

The wings of a dove flying free

John was a friend

Who swore to defend

A nation down on its knees

He packed his bags

Set off to sea

To fight for what he truly believed

The news today

Said he passed away

John was a hero they say

While the world sleeps

I’m down on my knees

Praying the fight brings a little peace

While the world sleeps

I’m waiting to see

A rain wash away the misery

Bring on the rain

On and on around it goes

On and on around we go

If faith is the key

When will we see

The wings of a dove flying free

Peace & love, RA

The power of you…

It’s a good idea to become aware when you say “I’m not” and to think about what you are creating as you say it. All great teachers have taught the power of the words “I AM”. When you say I am the words that follow are summoning creation with a mighty force because you are declaring it to be a fact. You are stating it with certainty. So immediately after you say I am tired or I am broke or I am sick or I am late or I am overweight or I am old or I am where I belong the genie says, “your wish is my command”.

Knowing this wouldn’t it be a good idea to use the two most powerful words “I AM” to your advantage? How about I am Happy, I am abundant, I am healthy, I am love, I am peace, I am trusting, I am eternal youth, I am filled with energy every single day!

This is a power inside you and inside me and you must trust yourself. Then can the power of your inner self take you on a ride of a lifetime. It’s not so hard to believe. So when I wrote the song ‘Hold On’ I express over and over to take the hand that is extended within yourself grab hold and hold on for the ride of a lifetime. This is why I love performing my music ~ positive affirmation…

You can hear ‘Hold On’ by clicking here >> Hold On

The truth is that the universe has been answering you all of your life but you cannot receive the answers unless you are aware. Be aware of everything around you because you are receiving the answers to your questions in every moment of the day.

The channels those answers can come through are unlimited. They could be delivered in the form of a newsletter that attracts your attention or overhearing someone speaking or in a song (many Rob Anthony songs, wink, wink…) or a signage on a truck passing down the road or receiving sudden inspiration. Remember to remember and become aware while the world sleeps.

As always I truly hope to inspire and encourage you to wake yourself up from inside and see the power of you!

Peace and love,

RA

“While The World Sleeps” just reviewed by Musicgoat.com

Check this out and let me know what you think! Thanks Corey at Musicgoat for the kind words.

Click here to read: Musicgoat.com

Like running for office!

What do I do? What do I think of Wisconsin & the music business…not to mention other local artists such as myself selling out? Read an interview I did here: http://bit.ly/WjVS5 …and share with your friends!

Thoughts on Michael Jackson…

There is so much I can say on this subject regarding Michael Jackson, his talent, the effect he had on millions of people from around the world, etc. Over the last few days though, I’m sure you’ve seen a ton of those thoughts, probably from people who are able to express them in writing much better than I’d be able to…

Instead, I want to take this opportunity to say that I feel we really need to take better care of people. Certainly, Michael Jackson made his own decisions about how he lived and, as you know, lifestyle changes happen only when people want it themselves, but with so many artists going out this way, you’d think people would have learned at least how to redirect people a little better, in order to support them in getting the help they deserve.

But instead, we enable entertainers to continue their destructive behavior, milking every last amount of money we can. Amy Winehouse is a perfect example. There is something about watching a trainwreck which we love.

Everybody knows what she is doing is destructive, yet we enable it by buying her records and buying the tabloids that cover her.

And everybody knew what Michael Jackson was doing as destructive.

It’s a pretty dramatic change to go from his likeness in his early years to the recent altered almost wax figure likeness of his recent years.

Like gaining weight, or learning a new skill, it certainly happens slowly and over a long period of time. Surely though, in 2009, we can get better at seeing these thing as they’re happening. And, believe me, there were plenty of people who saw it happening. Morals get fluid when money is involved though.

Everybody has a “Michael Jackson” in their lives. As people in the music business, which seems to attract people with this type of personality, we probably have several.

I hope you’ll take the time to reach out to your friends who are making poor decisions and otherwise acting stupid. Again, you can’t change people…I get that. You can let them know you support them though and you can stop supporting bad behavior.

Let me know your thoughts…

Too serious? What?

Someone recently told me I take music too serious. I do??? Wait, it’s my full time job!!! What if I told you, “you take your job too serious – lighten up, don’t go today, don’t put food on the table, forget your bills, don’t make a change for the better, don’t worry about those who count on you…”

It’s what I am, It’s what I do and I’m fully gratified with all the great friends I’ve made while doing something I love to do over the years.

This comment reminded me recently of an acoustic song I wrote on my new CD “While The World Sleeps” called “The American Way”. As this song was originally a joke I found true meaning and it’s message after others started to comment how much they liked the song.

I’m no different than you. I bust my a*# day to day and try to better myself in turn helping others around me. We all wish we could win the lottery but let’s not forget the lottery already won with the Freedom we have thanks those who’ve fought over the years to make us safe as we continue to have “a voice” unlike those in the recent Iran situation and many other countries ruled by dictators around the world.

We sometimes forget during life’s toughest challenges in our daily existence as Americans the true freedoms we have through our “American System” which granted is not perfect at all times but far superior than most countries around the world.

So I say to you continue to work hard, follow your passion and give back to others. This is what our forefathers wanted; only the best for “you” no matter what “you” do because “you” have the freedom to make a choice in what “you” do. I chose to take “music seriously”…

I invite you to listen to “The American Way” and several other of the songs on my new acoustic CD “While The World Sleeps” at the links below:

http://www.Myspace.com/robanthonymusic

http://www.CDBaby.com/cd/robanthony4

Let me know your thoughts. That’s my job getting to know more about you! …and a great job it is.

Send a reply with your thoughts and comments to: rob@robanthonymusic.com

Peace, love & Happy 4th of July (Your Independence Day since 1776)!!!

RA

We all need someone like you…

BE A FAN ~ I’m excited to be sharing the stage tonight w/AJ Hawk of the Packers & performing my song ‘We All Need’ for the kickoff of ESPN’s 2009 Special Olympics 30th anniversary summer games in my hometown of Stevens Point, WI.

We all need champions from the Special Olympics to show us how to believe in our hopes and our dreams; who encourage and inspire us to be the best we can be during life’s toughest challenges.

Good luck this weekend to all the athletes!

BE A FAN ~ Special Olympics of Wisconsin 2009

Peace & love,

RA

Down The Road makes yet another impact.

I was honored and proud to be part of the worlds largest truck convoy for special olympics. With over 100 trucks participating and escorted by the states finest law enforcement traveling up 41 from southeast wisconsin to the EAA grounds in oshkosh they helped in raising $100,00.00 for the Special Olympics of Wisconsin. Congratulations truckers and to all who attended and contributed!

The Special Olympics of Wisconsin provides sports training and competition for nearly 10,000 athletes in nearly 200 communities statewide with cognitive disabilities in 18 different sports year-round. I invite you to visit their site at www.specialolympicswisconsin.org to read more and find out how you can get involved.

Thanks again to all the truckers for keeping america moving and special thank you to SOWI for inviting me to emcee the event and perform “Down The Road” ~ an acoustic tribute to truckers who move the world along day to day and to the families who await their safe return.

~ Peace, RA

Down The Road – An acoustic tribute to truckers

New album release ‘While The World Sleeps’ to be released featuring Down The Road – an acoustic tribute to truckers who move the world along day to day and to the families who await their safe return. Listen now at: http://bit.ly/f6gKT

DOWN THE ROAD by Rob Anthony

The sun sets down on a painted sky
It’s always hard to say goodbye
I never leave your smile behind
I take all of you with me

The open road it calls to me
The places I go the people I see
I bring everything they need
And help the world to move along

One mile down and a thousand more to go
I carry the load down the road

The desert heat it keeps me warm
Rain or shine I weather the storm
Your pictures I keep up above
Remind me of the love back home

I tell my son the faces I see
That day-to-day they rely on me
One day you will understand
I help the world to move along

One mile down and a thousand more to go
I carry the load down the road

Waves of grain and the starry nights
Mountaintops and the city lights
Thoughts of you by candle light
They all bring me back to you

One mile down and a thousand more to go
And you know I’m coming back home
I take you with me every where I go
I carry this load down the road

SONG INSIGHT: This other life that beckons us and lets us ride free. Lets us take a part of ourselves to better the world, better our craft. It’s an inner struggle – remembering smiles of those you love under starry skies, longing to be back with them, and knowing what you’re doing is making a difference in the world. Just as the road leads you away, though, it brings you back to the things that matter. The same things that got you from city lights to mountaintops and a thousand miles back again.

Free CD @ Bucks game!

I know it’s last minute but I’m back again tonight performing before the Bucks take the court @ the Bradley Ctr. on the East Atrium Stage from 6pm to 7pm! It’s fan appreciation night & everyone gets a FREE CD sampler featuring music from my upcoming new acoustic CD ‘While The World Sleeps’. It’s are way of saying thank you for your continued support!

Cheers, peace & love… RA

March Is Red Cross Month! Become A Local Hero

Heroes touch our lives each day – making us feel safe, making us feel proud. Will you be one of them? In efforts to raise awareness I’m donating my time & truly hope you help in becoming a “Hero for the American Red Cross” 

In a world full of negatives let’s all do something positive. Members of our community are stepping forward to be “Heroes for the American Red Cross” pledging to raise $1000 or more to keep vital services of the Red Cross alive and well in Northeast Wisconsin.

Help support your neighbors & give to the Red Cross now by ordering one (or all) of my CD’s at: www.cdbaby.com/all/robanthony (if you have my CD’s already think about giving them as a gift to someone you may know!)

I’ve chosen to donate proceeds from my CD’s sales to reach this goal.

With your purchase your truly making a difference! Plus with every sale I will be sending you 2 FREE songs from my upcoming new acoustic album release “While The World Sleeps” (I can’t wait to share what I’ve been working on in the studio & you’ll be the first to have them!)

These funds will be used locally to:

* Provide warmth and comfort to disaster victims
* Help train community members for emergencies
* Teach life-saving skills
* Send emergency messages to military personnel
* Provide basic needs through a variety of community programs 

For more information on “March Is Red Cross Month” visit: www.arclakeland.org

Go ahead, give what you can & feel what it’s like to be a Hero. Your contribution will help support the needs of those in our local community.

Peace & Love,

Rob Anthony

Help me write my last song

So who feels alive out there?! I want to hear from you your thoughts and what you think of what some call a pretty big mess out there right now. You’ve heard my thoughts with my new song ‘The American Way’

Are you hopeful, faithful, loving caring, merciful, forgiving or doubtful, faithless, jaded and pissed off??? I’ll be honest I’m a little bit of all the above but that just comes with being an artist. Most say were moody and emotional anyway! ha…

The reason I want to hear from you is I’m writing one last song for the new album of music I’m recording and releasing very soon ~ I’ve titled the CD (with good reason) ‘While The World Sleeps’ and want you to be a part of it. So, I’m including all the comments I get from this email and am going to write and record a song for all you!

Email me at rob@robanthonymusic.com if you want to be a part of the dream and maybe together we can make millions! ;-) Well, maybe not millions but we’ll help spread the love ‘While The World Sleeps’ All who contribute will get the new song FREE when it comes out!

Pick of the week on iTunes is ‘Save That Rose For My Grave’

About this song: “The best laid plans of mice and men…” Isn’t that how it goes? In high school, I mapped my life out in good intentions, but an alluring life on the road to fame combined with alcohol abuse carried me farther from home, until finally the dreams I dreamt when I was young brought me back again. Enjoy listening by clicking here: ‘Save That Rose For My Grave’

One other note: Despite what some are bitching about I’m lovin’ the new Facebook…

If you like Facebook here’s the link to my new profile!
www.facebook.com/pages/Rob-Anthony/26803146584 

Also, be a fan ~ Special Olympics 2009 by visiting:
www.specialolympicswisconsin.org

Rob’s song in nationwide campaign

I’m excited to share my song ‘Inside You And Inside Me’ has become an anthem! Adopted by Venture Port (www.ventureport.org) ‘Inside You And Inside Me’ dares you to dig deep for your passion. 

The Extreme Entrepreneur Tour (www.extremetour.org) rolls on promoting its mission of how important it is to incorporate an entrepreneurial lifestyle into a framework for success with a new video campaign featuring ‘Inside You And Inside Me’ setting the stage for their nationwide events!

You can download ‘Inside You And Inside Me’ on iTunes by clicking here: ‘Inside You And Inside Me‘

Be A Fan – Special Olympics 2009

Be A Fan ~ Special Olympics Wisconsin 2009

WE ALL NEED
Words and music by Rob Anthony

You’re so young so full of dreams
Everyone knew that you’d succeed
Is that what it takes is to believe
You’re the example we all need

We all need a smile like yours on a rainy day
Like you we all need to believe
We all need someone like you
To show us how to believe
In are hopes and our dreams

When those clouds come rolling in
You’re the one who never grins
The smile you share it makes us see
You’re the example we all need

We all need a smile like yours on a rainy day
Like you we all need to believe
We all need someone like you
To show us how to believe
In are hopes and our dreams

With adversity brings great benefits

Well, another year older, eeck! …but another year wiser ;-) Yes, it’s time for another birthday on August 12th and unlike so many others I know with upcoming birthdays I look forward to it! Here is why:

I constantly hear over and over again, “I regret this, I regret that; I wish I could go back and change this or change that; I would have done this or done that” etc., etc…

I would just like to say this and I truly believe it holds true, it stems from a great book I was turned onto by friend & singer/songwriter Saul Kaye called “Think & Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. I highly recommend it… (I also recommend checking out Saul’s Music at www.saulkaye.com. We had a great time at Sundance Film Festival this past year where I had a chance to perform with him.)

“Every adversity and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit and every failure brings with it the seed of an equivalent success.”

This truly has helped me with the difficult past couple months and my recent vocal injury. This misfortune truly led me to self discovery. It helped me realize a lot of abuse I’ve been putting my body through this past 2 years but I’m happy to say I’ve overcome this difficult time and want to thank all of you for your countless emails and support. My voice is getting better and so on goes the show!

Point being this misfortune came with a greater benefit…

I will be celebrating by releasing some new music soon and for now I invite you to www.youtube.com/robanthonymusic to see videos of new music and some of my favorite past morning show appearances.

Remember National Truck Driver Appreciation week is coming up near the end of this month and I’m offering “Down The Road” an acoustic tribute to truckers and the families who await their safe return absolutely FREE at www.cdbaby.com/all/robanthony.

Get your copy now as a gift to your favorite Driver whether it’s your UPS or Fed Ex Driver or a trucker in the family or co-worker and show your appreciation! I will personally sign the CD for them and thank them for helping the world move along day to day! For special requests & bulk orders please contact me at rob@robanthonymusic.com

Here’s my tribute to all who help the world move along day to day and most importantly the families who await their safe return…

Peace, RA

Get your ear condoms

So I wanted to thank all you again for the get well wishes. Unfortunately the steroid shots last week for my vocal cords failed in doing it’s job. I’ve come to the conclusion it’s time to just shut the h*&l up for a while… That’s right vocal rest it is.

As you can imagine this has been very hard and taken quite a toll on me mentally and physically not being able to most importantly do what I love and that’s sing but secondly fulfill my obligations with performances this summer. Maybe it’s time to grow the long hair back, pick up my electric and rock in a metal band again!!! ;-)

But don’t feel too sorry yet as it has given me a chance to slow down take some time for myself & enjoy riding my Harley more ;-)

With all seriousness the other night while on midnight ride I came to the conclusion I’ve been singing abusing my voice while having so much fun with all of you playing longer shows than required by my agents over 8 years and I’ve never really stopped to smell the roses so to speak and notice I’ve been really abusing my vocal cords by not taking some breaks and time off. Apparently it has all caught up to me. I’ve spent many following days wondering how the hell I was going to sing that evening after the night before…though I’m sure all the wine had nothing to do with that ;-)

So again thanks to all you for understanding and I’ll keep you posted how my voice is doing and in the meantime to make up for it any one want a ride, play golf?! ha… I’d say give me a call but I’m on voice rest and can’t talk! So just shoot me an email @ rob@robanthonymusic.com

Also, I hope you all got your 2 FREE song downloads! If not here’s the link again: www.robanthonymusic.com 

Now if you really love me & my music help spread the love and email or myspace 5 of your friends who you think would like my music and share with them how they can get 2 FREE songs for there iPod by visiting www.robanthonymusic.com. Though you better prepare them to wear ear condoms cause there going to get f&*ked by those two songs with Ryan McIntyres backing vocals on ‘You’re The One’! (Rymac you kill me with that saying…)

Ok, enough said ~ spread the love & I will love you forever and ever…

Namaste,

Rob Anthony

Food drive a success

On behalf of myself, Y100, Festival Foods and the Salvation Army, thanks to all of you who turned out and helped our community with the food drive! It was a great success! I also had an awesome time performing and enjoyed meeting you all!

If you missed Wednesdays radio interview and performance of ‘Down The Road’ on Y100 with Randy Allen you can hear it now on my myspace page @ www.myspace.com/robanthonymusic or download here @ www.sendspace.com/file/00xpxy

It’s the first track posted and don’t forget I’m offering ‘Down The Road’ FREE at www.cdbaby.com/all/robanthony

Also, don’t forget to add me as a friend on Facebook! www.facebook.com/pages/Rob-Anthony/26803146584

Peace ~ Rob

All CD sales this year will help raise awareness for our truckers and their families as well as 411 Gina for missing persons. Click on over to www.cdbaby.com/all/robanthony and help support a couple of great causes by purchasing/downloading a CD or 3 or 10! ;-) I’m still offering ‘Down The Road’ absolutely FREE with any CD purchases!

A way to make a difference

This is a shout out to all of my friends in Northeastern Wisconsin. Come on out between 3pm-6pm Wednesday June 18th and help me support the Food for Neighbors VIP Country USA Food Drive. WFRV-TV Channel 5 CBS, Y100, Rob Anthony and Festival Foods have teamed up with over 40 local food pantries (including the Salvation Army) to collect food for our neighbors. 

Let’s show Northeastern Wisconsin that we CAN make a difference in our community by helping families in need. It’s simple – gather up your non-perishable items and bring them to the Festival Foods located off of Hwy 441 & CE in Appleton. 

As a thank you for your support, Y100 will be giving out an entry for every box or can of food you donate (up to 100). This entry could win you a chance to meet country music stars Brooks & Dunn and win VIP passes to Country USA where this year I will be performing June 27th on the VIP Y100 stage prior to Kenny Chesney! (I had the pleasure of touring with former Brooks & Dunn violinist Tommy Greywolf who contributed his awesome violin work on my ‘Where I Belong’ CD in 2004. You can hear sound samples and purchase/download the CD by clicking here.

Here are a little more details ~ Only boxed or canned non-perishable items will be accepted (please note expired items will not be accepted). Cases of Ramen noodles will count as one item (individual packages will not be counted). Bagged items will not be counted.

The drawing will start at 6:00pm. The first five people (who are present) with matching numbers will become the finalists. At 6:25pm one LUCKY WINNER will win a pair of VIP tickets and the chance to meet Brooks & Dunn at Country USA. You must be present to win. Only one number can be matched per person/per family ~ no exceptions. Must be 18 years old to participate.
 
I am excited to be performing at this event and hope to increase awareness for the families in need in Northeastern Wisconsin. Last year your efforts helped over 2 tons of food feeding over 300 neighbors in our community. Let’s pull together and collect even more this year! 
 
Thanks for your support! ~ RA